It’s old news, I know, at this stage but in case you haven’t already seen the details, Kerry earlier this evening named the following team and subs for Sunday’s league match with our lads at MacHale Park (throw-in 2pm):
Kerry (NFL Division One v Mayo, 2/3/2014): Brendan Kealy (Kilcummin); Paul Murphy (Rathmore), Mark Griffin (St Michaels/Foilmore), Shane Enright (Tarbert); Peter Crowley (Laune Rangers), Aidan O’Mahony (Rathmore), Marc Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht); Anthony Maher (Duagh), David Moran (Kerins O’Rahillys); Stephen O’Brien (Kenmare), Daithí Casey (Dr Crokes), Donnchadh Walsh (Cromane); Barry John Keane (Kerins O’Rahillys), Paul Geaney (Dingle), James O’Donoghue (Killarney Legion). Subs: Brian Kelly (Killarney Legion), Conor Cox (Listowel Emmets), Brian McGuire (Listowel Emmets), Jack Sherwood (Firies), Michael Geaney (Dingle), Johnny Buckley (Dr Crokes), Fionn Fitzgerald (Dr Crokes), Pa Kilkenny (Glenbeigh/Glencar), David Culhane (Ballylongford), Alan Fitzgerald (Castlegregory), Darran O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh Glencar).
The Kingdom’s starting fifteen for Sunday shows five changes from the one that lost narrowly to Derry last time out. Into the team come goalkeeper Brendan Kiely, vastly experienced duo Aidan O’Mahony and Marc Ó Sé at 6 and 7 respectively, Daithí Casey (who will captain the team) at centre-forward and Paul Geaney at full-forward, while out go ‘keeper Brian Kelly, Brian McGuire, Jack Sherwood, Jonathan Lyne and Conor Cox.
There are also two positional switches on the team, with Stephen O’Brien shifting over from the forty to wing-forward while James O’Donoghue also switches to the wing, moving from 14 to 15. Daithí Casey is the only Dr Crokes’ man named to start but his clubmates Johnny Buckley and Fionn Fitzgerald are both listed among the subs as is Darran O’Sullivan.
Is the match on TV?
On tg 4 I think and not to sure
It’s interesting to note that the three player’s selected for Mayo on the half-forward line, all started their football careers as defenders. Also two of them, played in defence in last week-end’s winning Connacht team, Keith Higgins at corner-back and Kevin McLoughlin at wing-back. The main worry I would have for Sunday’s game would be that, potentially Kerry’s strongest line is up against potentially Mayo’s weakest line, Kerry’s full-forward line against Mayo’s full-back line. If we can get on top in this area, we should be in with a great chance of getting a win.
It’s the first game on TG4. Kildare v Tyrone are after it.
Ya I have the same worry. We need a good game by all in the full back line. Will be great experience for Harrison tho in the corner back slot as there are still some quality players in that Kerry attack despite all their injury woes. The key will be to dominate around the middle and prevent the ball from getting in to their forward line in the first place and keep their own back line under pressure.
Yeah 45, Harrison looks like a lad with a lot of potential so it’ll be very interesting to see how he gets on. Dominating around the middle, will be vital alright, to cut out the supply at source. A word about our forwards, in the past our main achilles heel has been not having enough scoring forwards up-front. I’d prefer to see Higgins at 4, Gallagher at 12 and maybe Darren Coen or Mickey Sweeney at 13. Keith Higgins actually scored two points for Connacht last week, playing at corner-back. This is more than he scored in any game playing as a forward. His greatest strength is been a sweeper around the full-back line, something he does better than any other player in the country. Also he’s a great player to come forward from the back and pick off a couple of points. He’s so fast he almost makes it up-field unnoticed. You’d think playing Coen or Sweeney up-front, would add to our scoring potential as well, as they are natural finishers.
Its on live on TG4.